Expression of IL-8, SP-A and TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8), surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: Thirty neonates with BPD and 30 gestational age-, gender-, and birth weight-matched neonates without BPD (control group) were enrolled from December 2007 to October 2009. Non-brochoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. The levels of IL-8, SP-A and TGF-β1 in BALF were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of TGFβ1 (47±15 μg/mL vs 34±13 μg/mL) and IL-8 (54±16 μg/mL vs 28±13 μg/mL) in the BPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). In contrast, the contents of SP-A in the BPD group were significantly lower than those in the control group (35±16 μg/mL vs 42±14 μg/mL;P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increased expression of TGF-β1 and IL-8 in BALF may be involved in abnormal lung development and maturation in neonates with BPD. The low expression of SP-A in the BPD group suggests that the exogenous SP-A administration may be an option for the treatment of BPD.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (6):444-446］